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N. ILLINOIS (2-4) Butler 2-10 0-2 5, Dent 0-8 0-0 0, Jones 7-15 0-0 16, Muhammad 0-3 0-0 0, Munden 0-4 2-2 2, Gooden 1-4 8-8 10, McPherson 2-6 2-3 6, Sotirov 4-12 0-0 11, Nicholls 1-5 0-0 2, Durosinmi 0-0 0-0 0, Mott 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-67 12-15 52. DEPAUL (6-0) D'Amico 1-3 0-0 2, Skogman 2-5 3-4 7, Blocker 8-13 2-2 21, Enright 5-6 0-0 13, Rivera 2-7 1-2 5, Traynor 3-4 1-1 7, Benson 3-5 2-4 8, Gunn 4-9 0-0 11, Meyer 5-10 0-0 14, Thomas 2-3 2-2 7, Riddle 1-1 0-0 3, Pierre-Justin 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 36-66 11-15 98. Halftime_DePaul 51-15. 3-Point Goals_N. Illinois 6-29 (Sotirov 3-9, Jones 2-6, Butler 1-6, Gooden 0-1, Muhammad 0-1, Munden 0-1, Dent 0-5), DePaul 15-29 (Meyer 4-5, Enright 3-3, Blocker 3-5, Gunn 3-6, Riddle 1-1, Thomas 1-2, D'Amico 0-1, Skogman 0-1, Traynor 0-1, Rivera 0-4). Rebounds_N. Illinois 25 (Dent, Jones 6), DePaul 54 (Skogman 11). Assists_N. Illinois 12 (Dent 4), DePaul 22 (Enright 4). Total Fouls_N. Illinois 12, DePaul 14.
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British High Commission spreads Christmas cheer to SOS Children’s Village and Bethlehem Home
Jon Moxley is driving change by force on All Elite Wrestling programming. Moxley and the Death Riders are deep into a hostile takeover of AEW. It's a storyline that draws attention to the wider scope of AEW's legitimate past, present and future. "I spent about two months thinking, reading books and walking around downtown Cincinnati at three o'clock in the morning," Moxley told CBS Sports ahead of AEW Full Gear on Saturday. "I had a vision of a future that could be ours. A vision that could belong to everybody. A world where everyone can be successful. A world where everyone's strengths are brought to the forefront. A vision of a world that is inhospitable to bullshit." Moxley speaks partially in character but, as with most works of fiction, there's truth at the core of his message. The Moxley character's goals come at an interesting time in AEW's existence. The promotion looks radically different than it did five years ago. Depending on what's most important to you as a consumer, that could be for better or worse. AEW signed a lucrative new media rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery last month, securing its future for several years. It was a major win for the company. At the same time, total viewership and ticket sales have generally declined since 2023. Some longtime faces of the promotion like Moxley have endured while an influx of new stars replace absent fan favorites. "It's only five years old. You start with two hours of TV, that's one thing. Then three, then five. Now it's a different thing," Moxley said. "If you don't have the infrastructure to support it, you fall to the level of your systems. If the branch pops out of the dirt before it's ready, it will not have the structural integrity to hold the fruit it bears. I think we've maybe gotten things out of order. "Crawl, walk, run. Maybe we went from a certain cadence of walk and tried to jump into a run and things got a little out of balance and split the differential. It's just about getting into the right gear for the speed you're attempting to drive. We're going to do that. I'm actually quite excited about it." Moxley describes the growing pains of an upstart promotion. The professional wrestling landscape was very different when AEW launched in January 2019. Fans were starving for a major alternative to WWE and AEW forced the winds of change. AEW debuted with a two-hour television show and four to five annual pay-per-views. From 2023 onwards, the company produced five hours of TV and seven to eight PPVs annually. Another recurring challenge AEW faced was keeping peace in the locker room. Multiple physical altercations have reportedly broken out behind the scenes. Moxley did not acknowledge those incidents -- none of which involved him -- but they might point to his desire to facilitate a fruitful environment in AEW. "I found it challenging to find anyone who would take responsibility for anything," Moxley said of AEW in the past. "'It's not my fault' was something I'd hear bouncing around the hallways of AEW quite ubiquitously. Essentially what it boils down to is that I'll take responsibility for everything." The cult leader notes of Moxley's on-screen personality is a departure from his past character work. It's also some of his most satisfying. Moxley is using the platform of his record-setting fourth AEW world championship reign to help mold AEW's future. It's fulfilling work for a man who's overcome much, including a self-imposed 2021 stint in an alcohol rehabilitation program. "I've been through a lot. The last couple of years have been a very strange, rough and personal couple of years," Moxley said. "I feel like I've gone through a personal transformation recently. Things are very clear in my head. I'm still slowly, over time evolving into the person I think I'm meant to be. I think this is exactly where I'm supposed to be. "I'm very optimistic about everything... I don't think there's a more polite way to say this. I don't give a single f---. I have not one single f--- to give. That is the attitude that I'm moving forward with. That is the attitude my group has. Everything I'm trying to achieve now is very much the hill I'm prepared to die on." Moxley defends his AEW world championship against Orange Cassidy in the main event of AEW Full Gear on Saturday. Cassidy, an AEW original, leads the charge against Moxley and his Death Riders. But if Moxley is correct, it's in AEW's best interest to welcome his change.Tesla, Rivian reach 'conditional' settlement in technology theft lawsuit: reportGophers soccer team literally dancing its way into the NCAA tournament second round
How a GoPro camera has helped the Vikings keep rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy on trackKatie Couric Makes Her Opinion On Trump Voters Extremely Clear
Shedeur Sanders often draws attention to himself. But usually, its for his standout passing ability while leading Colorado to wins. On Saturday, however, the Buffaloes' star quarterback found himself at the center of a pair of controversial players. No. 16 Colorado faced a deficit throughout its Week 13 matchup against Kansas. And in the second half, Sanders was spotted putting his hands on an official. That came after the Buffaloes quarterback took a massive hit to the legs in the first half — one that wasn't penalized, which stirred up debate across social media. Here's a look at the two buzzworthy plays involving Sanders from Saturday, the first being his physical interaction with an official, then the uncalled hit he took against the Jayhawks. NCAAF HQ: Live NCAAF scores | Updated NCAAF standings | Full NCAAF schedule Shedeur Sanders pushes referee in Colorado vs. Kansas In the frustration of Colorado trailing Kansas in the second half, Fox's broadcast team caught Sanders approaching a referee, then giving him a shove from behind after a play was over. After the network showed the clip, Fox rules analyst Mike Pereira said Sanders was "lucky he wasn't ejected from the game." "He's lucky he wasn't ejected from the game." @MikePereira takes a closer look at Shedeur Sanders' push on the ref ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/SSESj7QtId Sanders remained in the game after the interaction, but players are often immediately ejected for physically interacting with an official. The Buffaloes likely got a huge break with the officials either not noticing Sanders' shove — or seeing it, but opting to not punish the star player. Shedeur Sanders takes controversial hit vs. Kansas Sanders was the subject of controversy earlier in the game as well, but for a much different reason. After he clearly had already thrown a pass and wasn't a threat to make a play, a Kansas defender came flying in, taking Sanders down with a shot to his legs. Kansas with a big hit on Shedeur Sanders 😬 pic.twitter.com/5jXVaGb1Rh No penalty was called on the play. College football fans, though, immediately suggested that the Jayhawks should have been called for roughing the passer as a result of the low hit. Such a dirty hit on Shedeur Sanders, how is this NOT a flag? Terrible pic.twitter.com/kMIiYqAqwn
The gaming in 2024 has reached new heights with the upgradation in the technology for providing immersive gaming experiences to the gamers. The best gaming monitor is not just about widescreen, high resolution, or fast refresh rate; is about offering an environment that will make the gamers feel inside the game by giving a whole new level of realism. Let’s take a look at some of the best monitors that will provide an immersive gameplay experience to gamers. The LG UltraGear Gaming Monitor priced at Rs 9999 is made to make the gaming experience better with features of immersive gameplay. It offers an IPS 1ms response time for lightning-fast visuals, a 144Hz refresh rate for smooth motion, and an AMD FreeSync Premium to reduce screen tearing and stuttering. The HDR10 with sRGB 99% provides vibrant and true colours whereas the Dynamic Action Sync and Black Stabilizer improve the real-time responsiveness and visibility in dark scenes while gaming. Coming to its look, it has a borderless design allowing adjustments in height and tilt. It also has an in-built crosshair feature for maintaining quality in FPS gaming. Other Options for Budget Gaming Monitors - Acer Nitro Vg271U M3, Acer Nitro VG270 M3, Lenovo Legion-R25f-30 The LG 27GS60QC Ultragear Curved Gaming Monitor is one of the best monitor for ps5 and ps5 pro that offers smooth 180Hz refresh rate with 1ms GtG response time for responsive and quick gameplay. Its 1000 R curved screen enhances the gameplay experience by wrapping the gaming world around the gamer along with the three-side virtually borderless design for space saving. It has a vibrant and true colour elements display because of a 99% sRGB colour gamut and HDR10 support. The monitor features gaming modes like gamer, FPS, and RTS for the best viewing experience. It also has an adjustable display with multiple connectivity options like HDMI, DisplayPort, etc. This gaming monitor is priced at Rs 19,699 at Amazon. Other Options for Best PS5 Gaming Monitors- LG Electronics Ultragear 21:9 Curved Gaming LED Monitor, ZEBRONICS New Launch N32A, LG Ultragear 32GS60QC The Acer Nitro Xv272U V3 is a 27-inch Agile Splendor WQHD Gaming Monitor offering 2560 x 1440 resolution with 350nits brightness and 95% DCPI-P3 colour accuracy for bright and vibrant display. Priced at Rs 17399 at Amazon the monitor has a 180Hz refresh rate along with 0.5ms response time that ensures fluid, lag-free gameplay along with the black-boost technology that enhances dark scenes. The connectivity includes 2 HDMI and 1 DisplayPort and comes with in-built stereo speakers for an immersive sound experience. It also comes with an adjustable ergonomic along with Acer VisionCare technology, flicker-free and blue light shield technology that gives a comfortable eye-friendly gaming experience for gamers who play for hours. The AMD FreeSync feature also minimizes the screen tearing and input tags to offer a smooth and immersive gameplay experience. Other Options for Best Gaming Monitor Under 20K Budget- Acer XZ306CX 29.5 Inch, Acer ED270R S3, Acer Predator XB253Q F The gaming monitors of 2024 have evolved the gameplay experience by providing an excellent unmatched experience for gamers. With technology upgrading every day, the gaming industry is also evolving by bringing new features that are loved by gamers worldwide. With a high refresh rate, fast response time, and HDR support, the above-mentioned monitors take the gaming experience to new heights.34 Indulgent Products That Are Honestly Much Better Than Treating Yourself To Caviar
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The Critical Necessity of Immediate Regulation and Labeling of AI-Generated MediaBroncos defensive Zach Allen is questionable to play in Sunday’s road matchup against the Raiders due to a heel injury. Allen was a limited participant on Wednesday due to rest. He practiced fully on Thursday and was once again limited on Friday because of the injury. If Allen is unable to play, that would be a significant loss to Denver’s defense, which ranks first in sacks (39) and second in pressures (164). Allen, who hasn’t missed a game since 2022 as a member of the Cardinals, has been one of the top defensive linemen in the league this season. He has five sacks and 46 pressures — tied for seventh in the league. In other injury news, safety Brandon Jones is expected to suit up for Denver’s divisional matchup after missing last week’s victory over the Falcons due to an abdominal injury. He was a full participant at practice for the last two days after being limited on Wednesday. Left guard Ben Powers (shoulder) should be good to go, as well. Even though Powers was sidelined on Wednesday and limited on Thursday, he was a full participant in Denver’s final practice before traveling to Las Vegas. Linebacker Drew Sanders (Achilles) and wide receiver Josh Reynolds (finger) were both ruled out and will not be activated from injured reserve. Reynolds was placed on the injured reserve last month after undergoing minor finger surgery. The veteran wide receiver was also shot in an incident that occurred around 3 a.m. Oct. 18 in Denver, The shooting happened after he and two other men were followed upon leaving Shotgun Willies, a strip club in Glendale, according to the affidavit. Broncos head coach Sean Payton said the offense has spent an extensive amount of time on the protection plan in preparation for Raiders star edge rusher Maxx Crosby. “Are we sliding this way? Are we nudging?” Payton said. “That requires some (time).” Crosby has caused problems for the Broncos throughout his career. He has totaled 15.5 sacks in 11 games against Denver. Crosby racked up two in the previous matchup between both teams in Week 5. “One thing about him is his motor never stops,” quarterback Bo Nix said. “He plays every snap really hard, and he tries to get in everyone’s head...He’s really good. One of the best in the league.” The Raiders offense is in flux due to changes in the coaching staff. And their secondary is pretty banged up, with cornerbacks Jakorian Bennett (shoulder) and Nate Hobbs (ankle) ruled out for Sunday’s contest. But one thing the Broncos can count on is Crosby being a game-wrecker on the edge. “I know there’s two important numbers, 98 (Crosby) and 89 (tight end Brock Bowers),” Payton said.
WASHINGTON — As President Joe Biden uses his final days in office to boost Ukraine’s defenses, Russia is playing a different game: spreading disinformation aimed at eroding U.S. support for Ukraine before Donald Trump’s return to the White House next month. Since the U.S. election on Nov. 5, the Kremlin has used state-run media and its networks of fake news sites and social media accounts to push divisive narratives about the war and America’s Republican president-elect. Analysts say the content, translated into English for American audiences, is intended to turn sentiment against Ukraine at a pivotal time, with the hope of reducing U.S. military assistance and ensuring a Russian victory. Recent examples include fake videos supposedly showing Ukrainian soldiers burning effigies of Trump or his supporters. One clip depicts soldiers saying Trump must not be allowed to take office and should “never be president again.” Multiple researchers have debunked the video, noting telltale signs of digital manipulation. A different video claims to show Ukrainian soldiers firing at a mannequin wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat and a Trump campaign shirt. That video was analyzed and determined to be fake by private analysts and Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, a government agency that tracks Kremlin propaganda. Other versions — just as fake — depict Ukrainian soldiers burning Trump’s books or calling him a coward. In the weeks after the election, the clips spread far beyond Ukraine and Russia, circulating among Trump supporters and believers in QAnon, the conspiracy theory that claims Trump is fighting a war against a Satanic cabal of powerful world leaders. It’s part of Russia’s continued push to divide Americans over the nearly 3-year war in Ukraine and paint Ukrainians as unreliable, dishonest allies, according to analysts who have tracked Russian disinformation and propaganda since the war began. By discouraging American support for Ukraine, the Kremlin is hoping to cut off the most vital source of military assistance that has kept Ukrainian hopes alive since Russia invaded in February 2022. Early in the war, Russian propagandists portrayed Ukrainian leaders as corrupt and self-serving. Russian state media claimed Ukraine’s leaders held Nazi sympathies — even though President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is Jewish — or were involved in clandestine bioweapons research that Moscow sought to tie to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each false claim was used to justify Russia’s invasion. “It’s planted by the Russians, this idea that ‘Ukraine is so corrupt it shouldn’t even be a state, and we are the right people to be running this place,’” said Rupert Smith, a retired British general and former NATO deputy supreme commander who now leads a Brussels-based consulting firm called Solvo Partners. “Now this is being used as an excuse for not supporting Ukraine.” The fake video claiming to show Ukrainian soldiers firing on the Trump mannequin spread on platforms such as X, Telegram and YouTube, getting an early boost from pro-Kremlin news sites before migrating to ones popular with Americans, according to an analysis by researchers at NewsGuard, a firm that tracks disinformation. Some versions of the video were created long before the election but were passed off as more recent. Within days, the video was receiving hundreds of thousands of views and had been translated into several languages besides Russian and English, including German, Chinese and Polish, NewsGuard found. According to U.S. intelligence, Russia sought to support Trump in the presidential election, believing he would reduce American backing for Ukraine and perhaps the NATO alliance. The incoming president has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, criticized U.S. military aid to Ukraine and NATO and promised to end the war in 24 hours, comments that appear to suggest he would press Ukraine to surrender territory now occupied by Russia. In response to questions about Russia’s role in spreading disinformation about Ukraine, a spokesperson for the Russian Embassy in Washington referred to past statements rejecting any involvement. In the time it has left, the Biden administration has urged Ukraine to quickly increase the size of its military by drafting more troops and has stepped up weapons shipments while forgiving billions in loans provided to Kyiv. So far, the White House has pushed more than $56 billion in security assistance to Ukraine and expects to send billions more before Biden leaves office on Jan. 20, 2025. It’s easy to understand Russia’s motives in trying to cut off that supply of aid, said Joshua Tucker, a New York University professor and Russia expert who studies online disinformation. What’s harder to gauge, he said, is the effectiveness of Russian disinformation, especially on social media platforms already crowded with false, bizarre and debunked claims. One reason that Russia may persist with disinformation targeting Americans is the relative ease and affordability of such operations compared with diplomatic or military alternatives. Russia likely sees disinformation as part of a long-term effort to undermine America’s global leadership by dividing its people and undermining support for its institutions, Tucker said. Whether the topic is immigration, the government, the U.S. economy or the war in Ukraine, he said, the goal remains the same and goes beyond one election cycle or one candidate. “I think what they were really hoping for is a contested result with lots of people out in the streets, arguing the election wasn’t legitimate,” Tucker said. If they couldn’t have that, however, Russia’s disinformation agencies will keep pushing narratives that they believe will inflame Americans and boost their chances in Ukraine, Tucker said. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
TikTok's future uncertain after appeals court rejects its bid to overturn possible US banOver the past few weeks, several teams holding playoff spots in the NFL have shown glimpses of who they truly are. Although plenty can change by the end of the season, Yardbarker is examining each current playoff team's potential as a Super Bowl contender based on its roster, past performance, and, to a lesser extent, future outlook. With that in mind, here's a look at which AFC playoff teams are contenders and pretenders. Kansas City Chiefs (11-1) Whether you prefer to call it luck or black magic, the Chiefs have something special. Kansas City clinched a playoff spot on Friday after recovering a botched snap by the Las Vegas Raiders, who were in field goal range, with 15 seconds remaining to secure a wild 19-17 home win. While they've dealt with their share of key injuries, there's no denying that the Chiefs don't look the part of an 11-1 team. Not only are they averaging their second-fewest points per game in the Patrick Mahomes era ( 24.1 ), but they're also racking up their fewest yards per contest (341.6). Additionally, Kansas City's +54 point differential is the worst among teams that have recorded 11 wins through the first 13 weeks of the regular season since 2000, per The Ringer's Sheil Kapadia . To put that in perspective, the other 22 teams that achieved this feat had an average point differential of +139. Regardless of whether their opponent is one of the NFL's elite teams or a bottom dweller, the Chiefs continue to find themselves in one-score games. On the surface, this might make Kansas City seem like a pretender. However, during last season's title run and through seemingly every win this year, the Chiefs proved that they can rise to the occasion when the stakes are the highest. As long as they have Mahomes, they'll remain a Super Bowl front-runner. Verdict: Contender Buffalo Bills (9-2) In a season where they were expected to fall off and the New York Jets were finally supposed to snap their lengthy playoff drought, the Bills are once again the team to beat in the AFC East. A fifth consecutive division title may be the most satisfying for Buffalo, considering it had to overhaul its roster this past offseason, parting ways with several longtime contributors. There was no shortage of uncertainties surrounding the Bills entering the season, especially regarding their receiving corps. Only one wide receiver on the roster had previously caught a pass from QB Josh Allen, but it hasn't been an issue since the two-time Pro Bowler has played like an MVP front-runner. In 11 games, Allen has amassed 2,859 total yards and 23 total touchdowns, playing much cleaner than he has in seasons past, tossing just five interceptions. Under Allen, the Bills offense averages the third-most points ( 29.1 ) and 13th-most yards in the league ( 345.3 ), which is particularly impressive since we haven't seen the unit at full strength. Once TE Dalton Kincaid and WR Keon Coleman return from injuries and midseason acquisition Amari Cooper continues to get acclimated; the Bills offense could potentially improve on those marks down the stretch. It may be difficult to put much stock in the Bills as a Super Bowl contender, seeing as though this season has played out like most of their recent ones. However, now that Allen has fully grasped OC Joe Brady's system and the team is getting healthier, this could finally be the year Buffalo gets over the hump. Verdict: Contender Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) Expectations were relatively high for the Steelers after coming into the season with an upgraded quarterback room, albeit one featuring castoffs Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. While it's not exactly surprising that HC Mike Tomlin is on his way to delivering another winning season in Pittsburgh, it is a bit shocking that his team sits atop the AFC North standings. A calf injury Wilson suffered in training camp opened the door for Fields to be Pittsburgh's starting quarterback, and the former Bear led the team to a 4-2 record. Despite Fields' serviceable play, Tomlin swapped him out for the veteran Wilson, who guided the Steelers to four straight wins before dropping a Week 12 road contest against Cleveland. Throughout it all, the imposing Steelers defense has been the backbone and identity of the team. Overall, the unit has allowed the third-fewest points ( 16.9 ) and seventh-fewest yards per game ( 305.18 ) while ranking third in turnovers forced (22). LB T.J. Watt is enjoying another season worthy of Defensive Player of the Year honors, having notched 7.5 sacks and a league-leading four forced fumbles . Even though Wilson has shown signs of his former self, the Steelers offense raises doubts about the team's Super Bowl potential, as the unit ranks 30th in red zone scoring efficiency. Nonetheless, with one of the NFL's top head coaches, as well as a quarterback with playoff experience and an elite defense, on their side, the Steelers are a legitimate dark-horse contender. Verdict: Contender Houston Texans (7-5) The luxury of having a franchise quarterback on a rookie contract allowed the Texans to aggressively add talent this past offseason to become a Super Bowl contender. Initially, Houston's investments paid off, with the team jumping out to a 5-1 record . Even so, it's becoming increasingly apparent as the season progresses that this Texans team has significant flaws and even lacks the spark last year's group possessed. Houston has lost four of its last six games, mainly due to its inconsistent, injury-plagued offense. QB C.J. Stroud has also regressed, throwing for 2,875 yards, 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions, four more than he threw in his 2023 OROY Award-winning season. As a result, the Texans have been one of the worst second-half offenses in the league, failing to find the end zone after halftime in five of their last six games. The Texans' shortcomings don't fall solely on Stroud, as he's playing in an unfavorable environment. Aside from losing his top three wideouts to injuries at different points in the year, Stroud's offensive line is one of the league's worst, ranking 27th in pass block win rate ( 53% ) and 28th in run block win rate (68%). Barring a catastrophic collapse, the Texans should eventually clinch their second straight AFC South title. Still, they haven't shown the necessary flashes to be considered one of the NFL's top contenders, and given their offensive woes, it doesn't seem like that will change anytime soon. Verdict: Pretender Baltimore Ravens (8-4) The Ravens are a much different team than the one that lost to the Chiefs in last season's AFC Championship Game, but they're still one of the best in the NFL. Baltimore made one of the most significant free agent acquisitions this past offseason, signing RB Derrick Henry to form the NFL's best offensive duo alongside QB Lamar Jackson. Henry has rushed for 1,325 yards and a league-leading 13 touchdowns, whereas Jackson has accounted for the most total yards ( 3,652 ) and touchdowns (30) among signal-callers. Although the offense can look nearly unstoppable at times, Baltimore's defense has been a problem, which isn't shocking as the team lost former DC Mike Macdonald and a few starters during the offseason. The Ravens bolstered their secondary through the draft, but their pass defense has been abysmal, allowing the most yards ( 3,569 ) and third-most touchdowns (22) among teams through the air. It is worth noting that the unit may be turning a corner, as Baltimore has only allowed 41 points over the last two games. There's no doubt that the Ravens have some brutal losses poking holes in their resume, namely those to Cleveland, Las Vegas and Pittsburgh. But if the defense continues to play at its current level, Baltimore's talent outweighs any concern about its status as a Super Bowl contender. Verdict: Contender Los Angeles Chargers (7-4) One of the biggest winners of the offseason, the Chargers made as substantial of a head coaching upgrade as a team could make, replacing Brandon Staley with Jim Harbaugh. The 60-year-old Harbaugh has quickly changed the culture in Los Angeles, and the team is firmly in the playoff picture, which was unexpected, given the state of the roster entering the season. Due to salary cap constraints, the Chargers were forced to cut ties with their two best wide receivers, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Fortunately for Los Angeles, the Justin Herbert-led offense has fared just fine, ranking 18th in scoring and showing continuous signs of improvement. Los Angeles' defense has arguably been the most surprising unit in the NFL this season and a driving force behind the team's success. Through 11 games, the Chargers have allowed the fewest points ( 175 ) and eighth-fewest yards among teams ( 3,560 ), a dramatic turnaround from a unit that finished 24th in scoring and 28th in yardage last season . It's possible, however, that the Chargers defense's performance will decline, considering it gave up 57 points in its last two games and now has three starters sidelined with injuries. While the Chargers have proven they're tough for any opponent to beat, they won't make much noise in the playoffs. After all, Harbaugh inherited a difficult situation, and they're just 1-4 against winning teams, with the lone win coming against the Broncos. But if Los Angeles can add a true No. 1 wide receiver for Herbert this offseason, it should be on the short list of contenders to win Super Bowl LX. Verdict: Pretender Denver Broncos (7-5) Wilson's disastrous Broncos tenure feels like ages ago, which is a testament to the stellar job HC Sean Payton and rookie QB Bo Nix have done this season. Payton faced his share of criticism after pushing the nine-time Pro Bowler Wilson out of town and replacing him with the 24-year-old Nix, but the Oregon product has been a perfect fit for his scheme. After a lackluster first two starts to his career, Nix has hit his stride, emerging as one of the leading candidates for the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Since Week 3, Nix has thrown the seventh-most touchdowns in the NFL ( 16 ) and just two interceptions while posting a 65.7% completion rate. Considering Nix seems to be improving with each passing start, it's fair to say Denver's 19th-ranked scoring offense has yet to reach its full potential. On the other side of the ball, few teams have a more formidable unit than the Broncos defense, which is headlined by All-Pro CB Patrick Surtain II. In addition to ranking first in sacks ( 44 ), third in pressures (124) and 10th in takeaways (15) this season, Denver's defense allows the second-fewest points (16.8) and third-fewest yards per game (296). Despite their success this season, the Broncos are another ascending team that feels like they're a year away from being able to mount a deep playoff run. Denver's 16-14 Week 10 road loss to Kansas City showed that it can compete against the NFL's top teams and could maybe steal a game. But ultimately, its 1-5 record against teams that now hold winning records is impossible to dismiss. Verdict: PretenderAs the year draws to a close, reflecting on how it unfolded can feel overwhelming—especially if the memories feel blurry or tinged with pain. For some, trauma makes it hard to take stock. For others, the absence of significant milestones can leave them wondering where the time went. If you’re struggling to summarise the year, let me assure you that this is entirely natural. Not every year demands a neatly packaged conclusion. Life isn’t an itemised ledger, and we owe no one an account of how we’ve spent our days—except, perhaps, our Creator and even that reckoning is meant for the end of life, not the end of a year. If you’re finding it hard to reflect on 2024, you’re not alone. Many of us have faced challenges that make looking back feel more like a burden than a celebration. There can be many reasons why it is hard to summarise the year. It could be the economy. Economic hardship has been a defining struggle for many this year. In Nigeria, the economy hit rock bottom, creating unbearable conditions for citizens. The toll has been both collective and personal, leaving many exhausted and traumatised. It could be personal challenges. For me, the highs of 2024 were often accompanied by lows, creating a confusing emotional landscape. I faced mental and emotional battles I hadn’t anticipated, and the hardest blow was losing my unborn child. Reflecting on the year inevitably stirs up these painful memories, making it difficult to process or find closure. These two factors—the state of the economy and personal hardships—are why many, myself included, find it easier to look forward to a fresh start in 2025 than to make sense of the year gone by. If you find yourself unable to put the year into words, there are some steps I’ve taken to navigate the difficulty. Acknowledge your feelings It’s okay if you can’t summarise the year. Some experiences are too complex to categorise, and there’s no rule saying you must tie everything together neatly. Accept the feelings—whether they’re sadness, confusion, or frustration—and don’t force yourself to unpack them all at once. Focus on the present Instead of dwelling on the past, try to make the most of the remaining days of the year. For instance, I approached Christmas differently this year. I recognised the emotions that could have dampened my mood and instead chose to enjoy simple pleasures: sharing food and movies with loved ones. It wasn’t extravagant, but it was meaningful. Create intentional moments The last days of the year don’t need to be perfect. They simply need to come and go, and you can make them worthwhile by being mindful. Engage in small activities that bring you joy, whether it’s journaling, taking a walk, or connecting with someone you care about. This year has been a confusing one for many people, myself included. I’ve read countless posts online where others share their heartbreaks, losses, and setbacks. 2024 has been universally difficult, reminding me not to take my struggles too personally. The year was full of contradictions for me. Things that should have made me happy left me sad. Opportunities that seemed like breakthroughs became sources of stagnation. This duality—where joy and pain coexist—has made it challenging to look back without feeling overwhelmed. But I’ve realised that I don’t need to have all the answers right now. Instead, I’m choosing to end the year with intention, however small. Moving Forward It’s okay if 2024 feels like a blur or a mess. Not every year will have a clear story or a satisfying conclusion. What matters is how we choose to move forward. As the final days of the year unfold, allow yourself grace. Be present, engage in activities that bring peace, and know that you’ve done your best to navigate this chapter. There’s no need to force closure; sometimes, it’s enough to simply let the year come to an end and trust that the new one will bring fresh opportunities to grow, heal and thrive. *** Feature Image by Polina Tankilevitch for Pexels
NEW YORK (AP) — Top-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans. Lamenting the contretemps, International Chess Federation President Arkady Dvorkovich said in a statement Sunday that he’d let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, and other “elegant minor deviations” from the dress code. He said Carlsen’s stand — which culminated in his quitting the tournament Friday — highlighted a need for more discussion “to ensure that our rules and their application reflect the evolving nature of chess as a global and accessible sport.” Carlsen, meanwhile, said in a video posted Sunday on social media that he would play — and wear jeans — in the World Blitz Championship when it begins Monday. “I think the situation was badly mishandled on their side,” the 34-year-old Norwegian grandmaster said. But he added that he loves playing blitz — a fast-paced form of chess — and wanted fans to be able to watch, and that he was encouraged by his discussions with the federation after Friday’s showdown. “I think we sort of all want the same thing,” he suggested in the video on his Take Take Take chess app’s YouTube channel. “We want the players to be comfortable, sure, but also relatively presentable.” The events began when Carlsen wore jeans and a sportcoat Friday to the Rapid World Championship, which is separate from but held in conjunction with the blitz event. The chess federation said Friday that longstanding rules prohibit jeans at those tournaments, and players are lodged nearby to make sartorial switch-ups easy if needed. An official fined Carlsen $200 and asked him to change pants, but he refused and wasn’t paired for a ninth-round game, the federation said at the time. The organization noted that another grandmaster, Ian Nepomniachtchi, was fined earlier in the day for wearing sports shoes, changed and continued to play. Carlsen has said that he offered to wear something else the next day, but officials were unyielding. He said “it became a bit of a matter of principle,” so he quit the rapid and blitz championships. In the video posted Sunday, he questioned whether he had indeed broken a rule and said changing clothes would have needlessly interrupted his concentration between games. He called the punishment “unbelievably harsh.” “Of course, I could have changed. Obviously, I didn’t want to,” he said, and “I stand by that.”
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